Whole bean vs pre-ground - Which is better for cold brew?

Next, you will want to consider whether to use whole bean or pre-ground coffee when making cold brew.

While pre-ground coffee can be used and many find it more convenient, grinding your own beans is the better option. Once ground, coffee beans quickly lose their freshness through exposure to the air.

Humidity in the air dilutes coffee beans and this process occurs more quickly when the beans are pre-ground. Pre-ground coffee beans are also more likely to absorb other flavors from the kitchen and to lose their flavor.

Finally, by grinding the beans yourself, you will be able to control the coarseness of the grind.

What's the best grind size for cold brew?

For the best cold brew coffee, you will want to use coarsely ground beans. Grinding the beans too finely will lead to over-extracted coffee that will be too bitter.

Coarsely ground beans, on the other hand, are easier and faster to filter. There is also less chance you will end up with coffee grounds in your cup when you use a coarse grind.

For an even and coarse grind, consider investing in a burr grinder natural. With a burr grinder, you will be able to grind your coffee beans uniformly, and it will give you more control over the coarseness of the grind.

Burr grinders come in a wide range of sizes, but if you are looking to save space and money, manual burr grinders are smaller and less pricey than electric grinders.

Which roast type is best for cold brew?

Another important question to consider is what type of roast is best for cold brew, light roast, medium roast, medium-dark roast, or dark roast.

This is in part a matter of personal taste and preference. The cold brew process accentuates some flavors and dilutes others, so you might need to make adjustments on the brewing time in order to compensate.

If you do use a light roast, keep in mind that the floral and fruity flavors of light roasts are harder to extract, and therefore you will need to increase your brewing times.

Another factor to consider is that lighter roasts are more acidic, but cold brewing reduces acidity so it will make it harder to taste some of the subtle and delicate flavors of the beans.

During the cold brew process, some flavors are lost due to the length of time of the brewing and the lack of acidity, but if you are trying to avoid acidity, you can use a light roast when making cold brew coffee.

On the other hand, a dark roast has already lost some of the subtle flavors of the beans in the roasting process, so it will have the most consistent flavor whether cold or hot brewed.